“For the time is coming,”
    says the LORD,
“when I will raise up a righteous descendant
    from King David’s line.
He will be a King who rules with wisdom.
    He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
And this will be his name:
    ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’
In that day Judah will be saved,
    and Israel will live in safety.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the treasures from the Temple of the LORD, and he placed them in his palace in Babylon.
2 Chronicles 36:6-7

• Remember that Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet”.
• He lived during a turbulent time in Judah's history. 
• The nation was on the brink of exile due to its unfaithfulness to God. 
• A major theme in the book of Jeremiah is the failure of leadership. 
• The kings, priests, and prophets were all leading the people astray. 
• In Jeremiah 23, God condemns these corrupt leaders, calling them "shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep" (Jeremiah 23:1). 
• In the middle of this despair and a promise of punishment for these bad leaders, God gives a message of hope.
• God promises to raise up a new, perfect leader. This is the Righteous Branch.
• A Promise of a King: The passage begins, "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land" (Jeremiah 23:5). 
• The term "Branch" (Hebrew: Tzemach) is a messianic title used elsewhere in the Old Testament (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12). It signifies a new shoot or sprout from the stump of a felled tree, symbolizing a new beginning from the royal line of David.
• A King Who Will Reign Justly: Unlike the corrupt kings of Judah, this new king will "reign wisely and do what is just and right." 
• This is a stark contrast to the injustice and oppression the people were currently facing. He will be a true shepherd, gathering God's scattered people and providing them with security and justice.
• The Name of the King: The passage culminates with the powerful declaration: "This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6). 
• This name is significant. It means that the King himself is the source of righteousness, not just someone who acts righteously. In a way, He is embodying righteousness.
• Hope in a Broken World: Jeremiah 23:5-6 offers a powerful message of hope. Even in the face of complete failure and brokenness, God's ultimate plan of restoration will prevail. The promise of the Righteous Branch is a reminder that God will always provide a way forward.
• Jesus as the Righteous Branch: Christians understand Jesus to be the fulfillment of this prophecy. He is the descendant of David, the King who reigns justly, and the one who embodies "The LORD Our Righteousness." Through his sacrifice, He provides the righteousness that we cannot attain on our own.

Pay attention to who you follow. Are we following flawed human leaders, or are we putting our trust in the one true and righteous King? Pay attention to what we say with our lips, versus what we say with our lives.